PLEASE HELP....NO MOISTURE GETTING TO MY MASK...

Ok...a few facts first...

I've been using a CPAP machine since August 2010; treatment has been very successful. The problem is I wake up every morning with a really dry throat. Each morning I notice there is absolutely zero condensation or moisture in my hose or mask....none....the ONLY place moisture/condensation can be found is inside the tank...the water level is noticeably down and condensation lines the walls and ceiling of the tank....buy, nothing in the mask, hose, or even just inside the black "nipple" where the base of the hose connects just above the humidifier; the tank is the ONLY place where moisture if found after the machine has run all night....the warming plate inside the machine is also hot to the touch.

I am using a Respironics machine with humidifier, a ResMed soft gel nasal mask, and chin strip...I always find my mouth closed when I wake and have never had a problem with waking in the night due to leaks through my mouth. The problem has occurred while using the A/C during the summer and while using heat during the winter. The problem has occurred even after switching out the tank for new one AND attaching a whole new (same model) humidifier to the machine also with a new tank. Still same problem: absolutely zero condensation or moisture in my hose or mask, only in the tank.

Any help would be greatly appreciated...my compliance went way up in September and I'm now using my machine every night and all night....however, I have to keep a water bottle with a fixed straw next to the bed every night just in case my very dry throat wakes me up.

I can not figure out what the problem is here nor can the dr and his staff...Someone must have experienced something similar...

...anxiously awaiting input...

If your machine is working correctly then I'm betting you are mouth breathing. Even with a chin strap.

Do you have data with regards to leaks?

And what pressure are you on?

What level is your humidifier set at? Have you tried turning up humidification to 5?

There are other causes of dry, sore throat. Have you investigated whether you have post-nasal drip or GERD? Both can cause the symptoms you describe. If I don't take Zyrtec every night, I wake up with a sore throat. I also tried claritin, but it did not relieve my sore throat.

If the water level in the tank goes down, then it is working you are getting moisture. When we are deep asleep, our mouths relax and flatten out and open. You may not feel like it but, yes your mouth must be opening to have such a dry mouth. Do a search on this forum, just type in dry mouth and you will get a ton of info, also search taping for more info. I hought taping would be a no-no but I was wrong...it works.
Cheers
Nan

When I read this post I felt like I had written it. I have the very same problems with extreme dry mouth.
I don't think my mouth is opening,I use a wide chin strap and tape every night. When I wake up my mouth is closed tight and the tape is secure.
I'm sorry,I just don't have any answers for this one,I have tried everything.
Good luck!!

Ok..I'll try to answer everyone's questions and let me add one clarification...the dryness is not in my mouth, it is in the very back of my nasal area, exactly where the nose mask is directing air/pressure...so no dry mouth (tongue, gums, etc)...just very dry in the far back of the nasal passages. Also, I am not having a sore throat at all..although it could get to that point, but no sore throat, just extremely dry rear nasal area.

- I do have data from my card and my dr has noted no leaks or problems...data looks excellent every night
- the pressure is set at 14.0
- the humidity level has always been set to 5 from the very start


It amazes me that people complain of "raining," or too much moisture in the mask and having to reduce the humidity....not the case here....all equipment is bone dry..except the tank...

Please continue ask questions...this is worth solving Thanks to everyone for the input thus far.

Do you take any medications? Many increase dryness. Benadryl comes to mind. Is the humidity low in your room? Is your machine lower than your bed? I raised the temperature and humidity in room and increased humidity at mask before switching machines. I tried to replicate lab conditions where everything felt good except the wires etc. I am a mouth breather and I also started therapy in August. At times my mouth was so dry, I could have competed with superglue for tackiness. For me, controlling environment in bedroom helped greatly. Sleep position was also a help. Eliminating Benadryl was the final step. Now I rarely experience dryness, but I probably breath out of my mouth about 80% of the time so situation is not exactly the same. Good luck.

You are not supposed to be perceiving any "moisture" in your mask or hose. Your machine is doing exactly the job it was designed to do. Philips Respironics worked very hard to eliminate the condensation of moisture in the tube or the mask. It's not a facial sauna, and most people don't appreciate water dripping on their nose and face all night.

That said, the dryness in the back of your throat could have many causes which you should try to rule out one by one:
1. I know your doctor said he looked at the data and you are not leaking or mouth breathing, but I'm the skeptical type--it's worth looking at the data yourself to be absolutely sure. When I open my mouth with the machine on, it's that exact spot that feels very weird and dry immediately.
2. Your humidifier may be turned up too HIGH, causing you to have some nasal congestion and post nasal drip. That can cause the exact feeling you are describing--I get it after colds quite often. See what happens when you turn your humidifier down or off (leave water in there so it runs in "passover" mode).
3. You may be one who DOES need more humidity and there IS a way to get it. You have to turn on "classic" humidifier settings on your machine. Go to viewtopic/t51687/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=51 ... ne#p472275 for directions. This will heat the water a bit more and increase the amount of humidity in the hose.

There are a few other things you should try:

1. Use a saline nasal spray and just give your nose a good spritz before bed. Tilt your head back after spraying so it can reach that spot.

2. Increase your fluid intake during the day. That may help.

3. If your house is pretty dry, consider a room humidifier.

I assumed you were talking about not getting enough humidity at your mask since you were experiencing dry throat. Sorry if I misunderstood your dilemma. I had a Respironics machine and was constantly dry in mouth and throat. I tried turning the machine up a notch every couple nights to see if it made a difference in what I was feeling in the mask. When I tried the "5" setting, I was awakened after several hours with condensation in the mask. Luckily I have experienced this only once. Every other time I used the machine, I never observed any condensation in the hose or mask and I checked for this occurrence every time I made a machine adjustment. Good luck in finding a solution to your problem.

I agree with what Janknitz stated. If your tank has a noticeable drop in water level, and you tank has condensation, then I believe it's working (where else would the water be going?)

I too have the same machine and humidifier, and I usually have it on "3." If I go any higher, my mask gets condensation in it, but at 3 or below, I'm getting humidification but the mask and hose is not soaking wet. I think Phillips has conquered the rain-out thing rather well!